File this one under “news that isn’t news” — Americans think poorly of their government.

So says the latest Gallup poll examining public confidence in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The results, published just four days before the U.S. celebrated its birth as an independent nation, show that Americans think less of their government than ever before — with only 7 percent expressing a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in Congress, for example. Meanwhile, Americans’ opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court — which spent much of the past week in the headlines as it handed down decisions that stirred debate over warrantless searches, free speech, religious freedom and more — have reached all-time lows and confidence in the presidency has reached its lowest point since George W. Bush’s last year in office.

What gives? Why are Americans so unhappy with their representatives?

As the editorial board noted, Americans have long viewed their government with skepticism. Gallup has been conducting polls to gauge public confidence in American institutions for decades. In 1973, when pollsters first asked about confidence in Congress, only 43 percent of responders gave their representatives high marks.

This latest poll is a sign that the American public is still “alive and kicking,” a fact worth celebrating, the editorial board argued.

What do you think? Why are confidence ratings reaching historic lows?

Have you lost confidence in America’s government? If so, why? Are you frustrated with partisanship in Congress? Do you dislike the president’s policies? Has the U.S. Supreme Court become too conservative or too liberal — or just too political — in its rulings?

Or do you think our government is doing a better job than it’s given credit for?

Send your thoughts to opinion@langnews.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Also, provide a daytime phone number so we can verify the comment. Or, if you prefer, share your views in the comments section that accompanies this article online.

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